Tree removal in the Adelaide Hills: good to know
| Inside a covered township | Outside the overlay | |
|---|---|---|
| Which rules | The Regulated and Significant Tree Overlay | Other laws, such as native vegetation rules, may apply |
| Trunk test | 1 metre around is regulated, 2 metres significant, measured 1 metre up | Not the overlay's test, so ask the council |
| Who to ask | Adelaide Hills Council or Mount Barker District Council | The same council, before anything is cut |
Tree removal permits in the Adelaide Hills
SA's overlay covers metropolitan Adelaide, the townships in the Adelaide Hills Council area and parts of the Mount Barker Council area. Inside it, damaging a regulated tree needs approval. The SA Property and Planning Atlas shows whether your address is covered.
Outside the overlay, don't read that as open slather. Native vegetation has its own law, the Native Vegetation Act 1991, and we couldn't confirm how it treats any particular block. Ask the council before a big tree comes down, and read our SA permits page.
When will council want an arborist report?
Adelaide Hills Council's 2021 policy says applications are generally assessed without an expert report, unless special circumstances apply. It may ask for one if the tree is healthy with no obvious risk, is threatened by work next door, is on the National Trust of South Australia's Register of Significant Trees, is important habitat, or its species is in doubt. If a report isn't conclusive, staff may get a second opinion at the council's expense.
That policy predates the 2024 size changes, so lean on it for the report question only. Arborist reports in Adelaide explains what one covers.
Tree removal in the Adelaide Hills: what's local
Cooler, with snow and hail
The Hills run a few degrees cooler than Adelaide, see light snow about once every three to four years, and large hail is more likely than on the plains. Heavy hail or snow on a crown can break limbs, so look the tree over afterwards.
Cudlee Creek, 2019
The Cudlee Creek fire took hold on 20 December 2019, with Lobethal and Lenswood first in its path. SA's rules treat trees within 20 metres of a home in a Medium or High Bushfire Risk area as their own case, so ask council what applies at your address.
Lines trimmed every year
SA Power Networks trims near its lines once a year in bushfire-risk areas, compared with every three years elsewhere. Private poles and lines past your connection point are yours to keep clear.
Storm damage and fallen trees in the Adelaide Hills
Never approach a fallen powerline: stay at least 10 metres from it and anything it touches, and report it to SA Power Networks. Call 000 if there's a fire or anyone's life is at risk. The SA SES takes storm calls when the house is damaged.
Hiring an arborist in the Adelaide Hills
Check the atlas for the overlay, then ring your council with the trunk measurement and the species ready. If the tree is near the house in a bushfire area, get the council's view in writing before relying on the 20 metre rule. For a big old tree, an arborist's assessment first can save a wasted application.